West Nile Virus case reported in Oklahoma

With a damp summer elevating the ideal conditions for mosquitoes, health officials are urging caution as the first case of West Nile Virus for the year has been confirmed in Oklahoma County.

Kim Morava

With a damp summer elevating the ideal conditions for mosquitoes, health officials are urging caution as the first case of West Nile Virus for the year has been confirmed in Oklahoma County.

That's a concern for many, including the Purin family of Shawnee.

Julie Purin said the cooler temperatures are prompting them to spend more time outside. They are battling the nuisance of mosquitoes every way they can, but the pesky critters manage to make their way into the house, so they've all had mosquito bites.

"It's probably worse than it's ever been," Purin said, adding the mosquito problem began in June and has continued.

"It's hard to be upset with the rain — we're thankful," Purin said, but the rain has made the mosquito problem worse, "and they just won't die."

Pottawatomie County Health Department officials encourage residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting WNV, a mosquito-borne illness.

While summertime typically marks the beginning of the high-risk period for exposure to WNV in Oklahoma, the cooler temperature and outdoor activities are providing more opportunities for people to encourage WNV-infected mosquitoes.

"We want to remind everyone to use insect repellent when outdoors and mosquito-proof their home and yard," said Pottawatomie County Health Department Administrative Director Brenda Potts.

Oklahoma experienced a record year of WNV activity last year. She said 176 cases of WNV were confirmed among Oklahoma residents, including 15 deaths. During 2012, cases ranged in persons from age 1 to 93 years.

"Anyone can be bitten by a mosquito and acquire WNV," Potts said. "Although we cannot predict the severity of this year's WNV season, it is important for everyone to know the highest risk months in Oklahoma for WNV exposure occur from July through October. We urge everyone to protect themselves now against mosquito bites."

She suggests the following precautions be taken.

• Use an insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing when you go outdoors, particularly if you are outside between dusk and dawn when WNV-infected mosquitoes are more likely to bite. (Insect repellent with permethrin should be used on clothing only.)

• Repair or install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.• Prevent items such as buckets, cans, pool covers, flowerpots, and tires from holding standing water so mosquitoes don't have a place to breed.

• Empty your pet's outdoor water bowl and refill daily.

• Clean leaves and debris from rain gutters regularly to ensure they are not clogged.

WNV is spread through the bite of the Culex mosquito, which feeds on infected birds and then transmits the virus when biting humans, horses, and some other mammals.

Symptoms of WNV include sudden onset of fever, headache, dizziness, and muscle weakness. Long-lasting complications can include difficulty concentrating, migraine headaches, extreme muscle weakness and tremors, and paralysis of a limb. If one or more of these symptoms develop, especially after suffering mosquito bites within the previous two weeks, a health care provider should be contacted. Persons over the age of 50 are at greatest risk of developing severe neurological disease from WNV infection. Some of the neurological effects of WNV may be permanent or fatal.

For more information, contact the Pottawatomie County Health Department at (405)273-2157, or visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health's WNV website at http://go.usa.gov/wpz.

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